Melinda “Mel” Mayorga, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Ambulatory Oncology. Services, University of Southern California, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Board-certified as an adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist and an oncology nurse, Mel chairs the Ambulatory Fall Prevention Council for Norris and Keck ambulatory clinics and co-chairs the Keck Nursing Professionalism program. In 2022, she was named the USC Nurse Humanitarian of the Year. Mel is a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Nurse Honor Guard, where she honors deceased nurses. In 2024, she was a recipient of the Simms/Mann Family Foundation’s Off the Chart award to recognize and reward greatness in nursing in the Los Angeles area. She was commended for her holistic approach to palliative care, grounded in evidence-based practice and inter-professional collaborations by creating the Sacred Pause Initiative- a just-in-time grief support for clinicians and staff, “By Your Side”- a hospital vigil program at End-of Life, and has lectured on her work involving “Last Responders”.